So, I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I'm a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland. HUGE. While everyone else at Disney is going crazy over Frozen and hunting down Anna and Elsa in the parks, I'm still the one hoping to catch a glimpse of Alice and the White Rabbit.
I think that means I'm old.
Anyhow, when I saw the new game Forgotten Books: The Enchanted Crown, I was immediately reminded of my favorite story of fancy and so was already poised to enjoy the game.
And oh did I enjoy it...
The Story of Forgotten Books: The Enchanted Crown
Well the very first thing I enjoyed about the game was that you do not play a detective... I repeat... you do not play a detective. Yay!
You do play a journalist, which is a slight step in my book above the classic detective, but still, I'll take what I can get.
The story was actually very intriguing, a sort of combination Alice in Wonderland and The Neverending Story.
Your friend, the librarian, calls you in because apparently an ancient book is causing trouble and he would like you take a look at it. Once you lay eyes on the book, you're gobsmacked by the fact that it appears to be talking to you... Kind of like the way Tom Riddle talked to Harry Potter... so that should raise some red flags right there.
However, you decide to act and write in the book that you will help the creatures in danger, and as soon as those words are written, you are pulled into the story. Fantastic.
Upon your arrival, you are greeted by a very French version of the white rabbit, and he informs you that the evil mage Eldor has taken over the land and is hunting the Enchanted Crown.
They need your help in freeing their word and ensuring the safety of the crown... and so your story begins!
The Graphics of Forgotten Books: The Enchanted Crown
What can I say about the graphics of this game? They were simply drop-dead gorgeous. The color palettes were divine, with frothy greens and misty blues that were perfect for a fairytale world.
The many fanciful scenes were a delight to unveil and the character design was breathtaking. I especially enjoyed the contrasting rich vibrant colors of the areas that demanded your attention as opposed to the distant mist enshrouded backgrounds.
The Gameplay of Forgotten Books: The Enchanted Crown
The general gameplay was very traditional in keeping with your hidden object adventure game approach. Magnifying glass to zoom, hand to pick up items.
Everything I encountered was smooth and well executed, resulting in an extremely polished gaming experience.
The hidden object scenes were lovely to look at without dark or hard on the eyes areas. If you're not a hidden object fan, you do have the option of switching to a puzzle mode where you'll be treated to some entertaining puzzles as an alternative.
The mini-games and puzzles were extremely entertaining and at times laugh out loud worthy. I especially enjoyed the one where the gophers were popping up with gas masks and you had to click on the one without one so it would go to sleep.
The Music, Sound & Voice Acting of Forgotten Books: The Enchanted Crown
I've got to give the developers credit, the voice acting was well done and conveyed emotion well. It helped immensely that the person who wrote the script clearly was talented.
The music was very subtle and soothing, a proper background mix that was quiet, unassuming, and extremely non intrusive... exactly what I like in an adventure game. Nothing too over the top where I felt I had to turn it down, but rather a nice tune that added to the excitement of the game.
Overall Conclusion for Forgotten Books: The Enchanted Crown
Overall, Forgotten Books: The Enchanted Crown was simply a marvel. Gorgeous graphics, soothing score, talented voice actors, a gripping story, and smooth and polished gameplay made for a most excellent gaming experience.
